Cooling Device for 3D Printed Powder Bed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cooling three-dimensional objects manufactured by layer-wise selective solidification of pulverulent building materials face challenges in reusability and handling of non-solidified materials, as they often result in electrostatic charging and agglutination of powder particles, leading to reduced quality and increased material consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a fluid medium enriched with water vapor or specific surfactants, flowing through the powder bed, which reduces electrostatic charging and agglutination, improving the reusability and handling of non-solidified building materials by creating a water shell and enhancing wettability, while using an inert gas like nitrogen for protection against oxidative damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling methods are used to cool the three-dimensional object and non-solidified powder, then cooling is achieved, but electrostatic charging and agglutination of powder particles occur, reducing reusability and handling quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fluid medium as an intermediary substance that mediates between the cooling requirement and the prevention of electrostatic charging. The fluid medium absorbs excess charge and prevents particle agglutination while facilitating heat removal, thus resolving the contradiction between effective cooling and maintaining powder handling quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the cooling environment by introducing a specifically composed fluid medium with controlled electrical conductivity and thermal properties. This parameter change allows simultaneous achievement of effective cooling and prevention of electrostatic problems
2Temperature
If conventional cooling methods are used, then cooling is achieved, but material reusability decreases due to agglutination and electrostatic charging
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid medium serves as a protective intermediary that prevents direct electrostatic interactions between powder particles during cooling. By absorbing and dissipating electrostatic charge, it prevents agglutination and maintains particle separability, thereby preserving material reusability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables recovery and reuse of non-solidified building material by preventing permanent damage through agglutination. The fluid medium protects the powder particles during cooling, allowing them to be recovered and reused in subsequent manufacturing cycles
3Speed
If rapid cooling is applied to quickly cool the manufactured object, then cooling speed increases, but quality of the three-dimensional object and non-solidified material deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes cooling parameters by introducing a fluid medium with specific thermal and electrical properties. This allows rapid heat removal while simultaneously controlling electrostatic parameters to prevent quality deterioration, achieving both fast cooling and high quality
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method enhances the reusability and sieving of non-solidified building materials, reduces material consumption, and improves the quality of reused objects by preventing electrostatic charging and agglutination, while providing effective cooling and protecting the materials from thermal damage.
Implementation Method 1
The water may for example cause that hydrolytic cleavage reactions occur in the polymer chains of the building material upon cooling, whereby the mean molar mass is reduced or an increase of the molar mass which would otherwise occur in the course of the manufacture of a three-dimensional object is at least partially compensated
Implementation Method 2
By the treatment, a water shell may be generated as a result of which the power particles are separated from one another such that the agglutination of the powder particles is reduced or even prevented
Implementation Method 3
In addition, the electrostatic charging of the particles is reduced or prevented
Implementation Method 4
By enriching the fluid medium with an acid, preferably with a carboxylic acid, especially with formic acid and/or acetic acid... protection against oxidative damage
Data Source
AI summary
Method for cooling a three-dimensional object manufactured by layer-wise selective solidification of a pulverulent building material and non-solidified building material in which the three-dimensional object is embedded by a treatment with a fluid medium. The fluid medium is constituted by a carrier gas that is specifically enriched with an additional component which comprises a further gas and/or a liquid and/or by a gas mixture from which specifically at least one mixture components is at least partially withdrawn.